حفظ باروری

Egg freezing is a modern technology in reproductive medicine that helps women preserve their fertility for the future. This method, also known as fertility preservation or oocyte cryopreservation, allows women who wish to delay pregnancy for medical, personal, or professional reasons to use their healthy and young eggs in the future.

As women age, their natural ability to conceive gradually declines. Both the quality and quantity of eggs are affected by age. Women in their 20s and early 30s have the highest chances of conception, but after the age of 35, the likelihood of pregnancy decreases significantly. Fertility preservation through egg freezing allows women to freeze their eggs at a time when their quality is high, enabling them to use those eggs later, especially after the age of 35 or 40.

Steps of Egg Freezing:

  1. Ovarian Stimulation: In this phase, hormonal medications are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce a larger number of mature eggs in a single menstrual cycle.

  2. Egg Retrieval: The eggs are collected from the ovaries using a simple and minimally invasive procedure. This process is guided by ultrasound and usually performed under mild anesthesia.

  3. Freezing the Eggs: The collected eggs are rapidly frozen through a technology known as vitrification. This method helps preserve the cellular structure of the eggs and prevents damage during the freezing process.

  4. Storage of Eggs: The frozen eggs are stored in specialized conditions at very low temperatures and can remain viable for many years.

Uses of Egg Freezing:

  • Delaying Pregnancy for Personal or Career Reasons: Women who are not ready for pregnancy yet or want to focus on their careers can use this method to delay childbearing.

  • Before Starting Medical Treatments: Some treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, can damage the ovaries and eggs. Freezing eggs before starting these treatments helps women preserve their fertility and potentially conceive after recovery.

  • Before Menopause: Women approaching menopause or at risk of early menopause can freeze their eggs to preserve their fertility for the future.

Advantages of Egg Freezing and Fertility Preservation:

  • More Control Over Timing of Pregnancy: Women can delay pregnancy without worrying about the decline in egg quality.
  • Fertility Preservation for the Future: Egg freezing allows women to use their young and healthy eggs, even if they lose their natural ability to conceive later in life.
  • Reduced Psychological Stress: Women can avoid the mental pressure associated with the decrease in fertility as they age by using fertility preservation methods.

Challenges and Limitations of Egg Freezing:

  • Financial Costs: The process of egg freezing and its long-term storage can be costly and should be considered.
  • Uncertain Results: Although this technology has had significant success, there is no guarantee that using frozen eggs will always result in a successful pregnancy.

Fertility preservation through egg freezing has become an important tool for women, allowing them to control the timing of their pregnancies based on their life circumstances and health conditions. This method, in addition to expanding fertility options, provides women with more freedom and reduces the stress associated with the decline in fertility due to aging. However, it is essential to consult with specialist doctors and consider all aspects of the procedure before proceeding.